With the on-going duties with the new job, I've been having thoughts about changing the Octy Hatch (1.9 Elegance) for an Estate. (Have found a couple of 2.0 DSG L&K's floating around.)

So, I thought (as usual) I'd ask the owners:

The L&K's I've found have the variable floors in. These appear to have handles: does this give access to a loadspace under the false floor?

Given that I pickup and carry a range of things now (decorating stuff to several packs of coke): what limit does the variable floor have to it? Does the estate have a higher weight capacity in the boot than the hatch? (i.e. is the suspension better for loads)

I take it that the 2.0 would be better at towing than the 1.9 too?

Thanks for your input guys

Yeah, the handle makes the vairable boot fold in two places giving you three pieces which fold in a Z shape. If you draw a line from the lip when you fold the back seat down, it's level with that. Hopefully that'll give you an idea of depth, and it's made of about 18mm chipboard, so pretty sturdy. There's a gap either side at the back to allow for clipping the side panels in and run about in line with the suspension turrets.

Hardly use mine cos don't I have a waterproof liner instead, but it's been handy in the past at times.

There is a weight limit that can be put on it, though I can't remember what it is. I think it might be 70kgs

The only poor aspect of the estate is that there is not a retractable net between the back of the seats and the roof in the estate - this is an option here in Germany (160 euros) but only thing available in UK is dog guard type mesh. I had a Volvo estate previously and this addition provided piece of mind when loading up preventing items shifting into the area occupied by passengers and driver. Howeve , the Octy estate beats the Volvo in every other respect!

The materials used in my Volvo boot (850R) were much better quality and far more durable than the ones in my Octavia.

Other thing to add is that it can be removed. I think it was standard on the L and K, but I could be wrong! One of the advantages of it is that it makes to load space level with the bumper so you don't have to lift stuff out.

Sarge.

I don't think the suspension on the estate is any different to the hatch, at least judging by the number of estates I see squatting on the motorway!

I don't think the suspension on the estate is any different to the hatch, at least judging by the number of estates I see squatting on the motorway!

I agree. I test drove both the hatch and estate before buying a vrs estate. As far as I could see the only difference was the extra height you gain over the boot with the estate.

I was suprised to find they are both identical in length.